KEYS TO GETTING AND ACING A JOB INTERVIEW

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Image Source: www.lucrativetech.com.ng Finding a job can be very daun...

Image Source: www.lucrativetech.com.ng

Finding a job can be very daunting
especially in the current economic climate – there are far too many people
gunning for too few positions. On the other hand, an event in one part of the
world generates a ripple effect, affecting other economies elsewhere; sometimes
in multiple places. Businesses are often the first to respond to economic
downturns by downsizing their workforce, which simply means firing a large
number of workers. Having said that, people are still securing and retaining
top jobs in top companies. So, what makes them different? What are the key
ingredients of their success? Those who get these jobs may not necessarily be
smarter than you are. Of course in the Nigerian environment, a lot of other
subterranean factors come into play, but that aside, some people do apply for
top jobs and succeed in securing them, without extra help from anyone. I recall
a good friend of mine by the name Vincent who was crystal clear about what he
wanted to do upon graduation. He clearly wrote down in his diary that he was
going to work for Pricewaterhousecoopers, even before graduation. The
interesting thing is that he trained in University as a Microbiologist with no
training whatsoever at the time in accounting or finance. Yet, he could not
have been more certain about where he was going to work. Indeed, he went on to
secure a job at Pricewaterhousecoopers, from where he has now gone on to work
for Deloitte and KPMG. It has to be said that he had no contacts in any of
these companies prior to sending out applications to them.

He is only one of his kind. I know
someone else by the name Dennis who studied Mass Communication and always, he
maintained that he was going to be the PR officer of some of the biggest and
finest companies in the country. He has now served in that capacity for one of
the biggest banks in the country. Currently he is the PR officer of one of the
biggest oil companies in Nigeria. The
Vincents and Dennises of this world have inherent abilities that set them apart
from the rest of the crowd. Like everyone else, they experience setbacks and
failure but they find a way to get through them. Often, the grade you graduate
with makes a difference, but believe it or not, there are lots of people who
graduated with first class honors and high second upper (2:1) who are still struggling
on some stale, drab and boring jobs, and many have struggled to find work at
all. One may look at them and argue that they do not deserve the degrees they
graduated with. I do not fully subscribe to that opinion. Yes, some people obtain
certain grades via dubious means. However, many others work their tails off to
make good grades, and there are many of them who are still struggling
extensively in the clogged job market.

This is mainly because some of them have
not been given a chance at all. You cannot get a job when you are not offered
an interview or test at all. Therefore, getting your foot in the door becomes
the singular most important thing in the job hunting world. How do you get
noticed? How do you attract the attention of recruiters to be offered the
all-important invitation to a test or an interview? Whether you like it or not,
your resume (CV) speaks volumes about you. It is your only shot at opening door
and how you sell yourself on it can make a world of difference. These days,
most companies like KPMG, Pricewaterhousecoopers, Total, Exxon-Mobil, Chevron,
Nigerian Breweries, Guinness, Nestle Foods, Google, Unilever, Huawei, MTN and
Globacomno longer sort CVs by hand.
The sheer volumes of applications they receive make it impossible for them to
sift through thousands of CVs. Your fate then is left in the hands of a
computer. Computers are programed to do the sorting after thousands have sent
in their applications electronically. When you prepare your CV then, you cannot
hope that someone would take a good look at it and see that you have what they
need. No! Those days are fast becoming extinct. You have to think of how to
endear your CV to the eyes of a computer. You have to think like the computer,
understand the type of program the computer runs on as it wades through
thousands of applications.

A common practice is to program the
computer to look out for specific key words. The frequencies at which these
words occur on you CV greatly enhance your chance of getting through the
computer. Many talented people are not getting calls for interviews because
they are still thinking in the old ways. Even when you make it past the
computer, the human eyes consistently look for salient points on your CV that
make you stand out of the big crowd. If you are a young graduate or about to
graduate and you are not investing a great deal of time in re-learning how to
prepare your CV, then you are setting yourself up for massive failure. Some of the
things that outstanding employers look out for on CVs include;

Clarity:
A lot of people have the propensity to be generic on their CV. They use words
such as ‘intelligent’ ‘dedicated’ ‘hard working’ and ‘good interpersonal
skills’. There is no special fee that qualifies you to use those terms, so
anybody can include those on their CV. You should desist from those if you are
still using them. The best way to get a prospective employer raving about you
after you have carefully negotiated the computer is by telling a story on your
CV. Instead of stamping the word ‘intelligent’ on your CV as one of your
attributes, tell a story that indirectly, but clearly highlights your
intelligence. A few short lines for instance about an experience during NYSC
where you made a meaningful contribution to a situation at work or a project
will speak much louder than simply stating that you are ‘intelligent’. That, no
longer sells.

More importantly, you should clearly
narrate your passion for the company you are applying for. You can let them
know that it has been your lifelong dream and passion to work for them. That
alone is not enough though. You have to tell them why. What led to this burning
desire? What contributions do you think you can make by virtue of this job?
What special attributes and experiences of yours back up your claim? Vincent in
his interview with Pricewaterhousecoopers told them that he had scribbled them
down in his diary as his dream place to work, because despite his training as a
microbiologist, he likes numbers. He finds their work fascinating and that he had
taken time to research how the company contributes immensely to the economy. He
knew so much about them, their main clients, how they operated and what their
overarching goals and policies were. He made them understand that he had the Pricewater
DNA in him. Who would not want to hire someone like this? Before the interview
though, his CV had already conveyed the same message in crisp and clear terms.

Preparation:
Writing down the name of the company you wish to work for is one thing, and
actually preparing for the journey itself is a different ball game. Some people
can build a mansion with their mouth alone. Wishes achieve nothing in life. If
you desire to work for a particular company, you must take clear and decisive
steps to prepare for the position you so dearly covet. In Vincent’s case, he
made time to study accounting on his own. He took classes in finance and
auditing. Despite the extra cost of all these, he was willing to do them – the
gains he was pursuing far outstripped the cost. In addition, he volunteered in
a small audit firm in Ilesha during holidays while he was in University.
Including such volunteering experiences on your CV (not made up experiences but
true experiences) showed that he had taken far-reaching steps to prepare for
the job he loved and wanted. He was proactive! If you decide to include a fake
volunteering experience on your CV, it will only bring you woes rather than
success because when the questions begin to rain down on you from all angles,
you’d find yourself in a hot boiling soup.

What
can you offer? Providing specific ideas as to how you
can significantly improve the company’s bottom line will be the icing on the
cake during a job interview. Assuming you were a computer engineering graduate
interviewing for a job in Zenith Bank. In this age of internet banking and
globalization, people are rapidly moving all over the world. You could share
with your interviewers an idea about developing an application (App) that will
allow marketers (who are often on the go in search of new accounts) to
communicate with staffers in operations, who often need the marketers’ approval
to honor certain cheques presented on the accounts they (marketers) manage.

Such an App can also include an
interface that allows marketers to communicate more effectively with their
globe-trotting customers. As a Microbiologist interviewing for a position in Guinness
or Nigerian Breweries you could put forward the idea of micro-brewing. In
addition to their major brand names such as Gulder, Star, Guinness Stout, and
Malta Guinness, micro-brewing would allow these companies to create newer and
cheaper products from cheap, locally sourced raw materials that will serve the
needs of customers in specific locations in the hinterland who do not have the
same spending power as their city counterparts. The important thing is that the
company is staying competitive while growing their profit in newer markets by
virtue of your creativity.

A Chemist interviewing for a position with
Nestle Foods could put forward the idea of creating and enhancing flavors that
mimic the taste of Maggi cube at a lower cost that excludes or significantly
reduces the input of raw materials during production. This could ultimately
save the company money by the millions while making you a valuable employee.
Similarly, you could float the idea of creating new flavors synthetically with
respect to the production of Bournvita, if you are looking for a job in Cadbury.
Employers are no longer looking for people who want to be baby-sat. Of course
there will always be internal training exercises within organization, but
overall, companies are looking for people who are driven; people with
creativity and the boldness to pursue them. For every opportunity you get
during an interview, let your creativity shine through. Find out the problems
the company may be facing and come with a plausible solution to it. Whether
your idea is eventually adopted or not is a different thing, but on the spot,
your creative nature will shine through, and very few employers will overlook
that. Companies are looking for leaders…sell yourself as one. Be one!

Confidence:
I am not going to suggest that you brag, but I must say that your CV is not a
place to be modest. It is a place to shout as loudly as you can. Modesty gets
you swept under the carpet in the job hunting world. If you have great talents
relevant to the position you are applying for, you MUST highlight them and
emphasize them CONFIDENTLY. Do not be afraid to say that you graduated top of
your class or in the top 5 or ten of a class of 150. If you have worked on a
successful project for instance during NYSC, you should elegantly and
colorfully present your contributions to that project. Part-time jobs for
students are rare in Nigeria, so you have to seek out opportunities that will
equip you with skills you are not likely to acquire from the classroom
(university).

Find a place to work for no pay as a
student (volunteering) for a short time. The experience you gain from this will
certainly blow your trumpet (on your CV) in years to come. Bag as much
experiences as you can as a student. The average Nigerian student thinks that
they cannot gain experience until they are in the job market. Announcement
folks!!! Times have changed. The corporate culture in the country is changing
rapidly. To sit around and wait is the ultimate travesty. If you can’t find a
way, make one yourself. As a student, you have a golden opportunity to acquire
experiences that will CERTAINLY set you apart through volunteering. Forget
about money for now and seek out those opportunities. Most of all, when you
have acquired experiences through volunteering, be prepared to emphasize them
on your CV, as lavishly as you possibly can.

Public
Speaking and Writing: This is one of the most important
skills you will ever acquire. Most Nigerian universities do very little to
prepare their students in terms of communication. Communication is not
exclusively reserved for Mass Comm students. In my time at University in
Nigeria, I probably gave just one presentation in four years. In a few years
abroad, I was faced with several presentations. The more you talk to groups,
the more confident you become. Ultimately, this puts you at ease during
interviews and imbues you with the ability to convey your thoughts and ideas to
your colleagues when you have secured the job. Work on your public speaking skills
as well as your writing. These are special skills that can get you easily
noticed…and respected.

Finally, to think that the classroom
education you are receiving is enough to get your career going is a big lie –
snap out of that notion. Some people are downright indecisive when it comes to
the work that they need to put in to position themselves to get ahead in life.
Do not fall into the same camp. Set yourself apart. Go the extra mile.
Remember, computers have entered the game. You too should up your game to stand
a chance at success!

This article was written by:

Victor Chinoo

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